The best way to see the Eternal City is to get lost in it.
Rome is one of the most visited cities in the world, and its most famous landmarks, like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, are often surrounded by a crushing sea of tourists. A truly magical Roman experience, however, is not about fighting the crowds; it’s about escaping them. To experience the real, living city, you have to venture away from the well-worn tourist path and to adopt the rhythms of local life.
These are the ways to see the city as the Romans do, a guide to finding the authentic soul of this incredible place.
1. You should explore the foodie paradise of the Testaccio neighborhood.
While most tourists are eating overpriced, mediocre pasta near the Pantheon, the real foodies of Rome are in the neighborhood of Testaccio. This is the historic, working-class heart of Roman cuisine, a place of old-school trattorias and the incredible Testaccio Market, where you can find some of the best and most authentic food in the entire city, as mentioned by Veggie Wayfarer.
This is where you will find the real “cucina romana.” It’s a gritty, unpretentious, and incredibly delicious neighborhood that has not yet been completely overrun by tourists, a true hidden gem for anyone who loves to eat.
2. You need to have a proper “aperitivo” in the evening.
The “aperitivo” is a beloved daily ritual all over Italy, and it is the key to understanding the social life of Rome. Around 7 p.m., the local bars fill up with Romans who are enjoying a pre-dinner drink, like an Aperol Spritz or a glass of wine. The wonderful part is that this drink is almost always accompanied by a free, and often very generous, buffet of snacks.
This is not just a “happy hour”; it is a social institution. It is the perfect way to relax after a day of sightseeing, to people-watch, and to feel like a real local, according to AFAR. The neighborhood of Monti is a particularly great place to do this.
3. You should visit the Capitoline Museums instead of the Vatican.
The Vatican Museums are a world-class institution, but the experience of visiting them can be a truly miserable, shoulder-to-shoulder shuffle through a sea of tour groups. For a much more relaxed and equally impressive museum experience, head to the Capitoline Museums, Medium.com reports. Located on the beautiful, Michelangelo-designed Capitoline Hill, this is the oldest public museum in the world.
It houses a spectacular collection of ancient Roman sculpture, and because it is not as famous as the Vatican, you can often enjoy the masterpieces in relative peace and quiet.
4. You have to wander through the vast and beautiful Borghese Gardens.
While the historic center of Rome can be intense and chaotic, the Borghese Gardens offer a massive and beautiful green oasis of calm. This is the city’s version of Central Park, a sprawling landscape of shaded walkways, beautiful fountains, and a serene lake where you can rent a rowboat. This is where the Romans come to escape the city, to go for a run, or to have a relaxing family picnic.
It is also home to the world-class Borghese Gallery, which you must book in advance. The park itself, however, is free to enter and is the perfect place to spend a slow, relaxing afternoon.
5. You must get your coffee at a bar, standing up.
The American concept of a coffee shop, with its comfortable couches and laptops, does not really exist in the same way in Rome. The traditional way to have a coffee here is to go to a local “bar,” to order your espresso or cappuccino, and to drink it while standing at the counter. You will pay a much lower price for it this way than if you sit at one of the tables.
This is a quick, efficient, and deeply ingrained part of the daily Roman ritual. It’s a small but important way to participate in the local culture and to avoid looking like a tourist.
6. You should explore the Appian Way on a bicycle.
The Ancient Appian Way is one of the oldest and most important roads of the Roman Republic. A large portion of this ancient road, which is still paved with its original, massive Roman stones, is now the center of a beautiful regional park. One of the best ways to experience it is to rent a bicycle and to spend a day pedaling along its historic route.
You will ride past ancient Roman tombs, the ruins of villas, and beautiful stone pine trees. It is a fantastic and adventurous way to get out of the city and to physically connect with the incredible history of ancient Rome.
7. You can see an opera at the Baths of Caracalla.
In the summer, the ancient Baths of Caracalla, the massive and incredibly well-preserved ruins of a Roman public bath complex, are transformed into one of the most spectacular open-air opera venues in the world. The Rome Opera stages a summer season of grand, epic productions in this incredibly atmospheric setting.
To be able to watch a world-class performance of an opera like “Aida” or “Carmen” in the heart of these ancient ruins, under the stars, is a truly magical and unforgettable experience. It is a perfect blend of high culture and ancient history.
8. You need to discover the bizarre Quartiere Coppedè.
For a look at a completely different and much less-visited side of Rome, head to the tiny and fantastical neighborhood of Quartiere Coppedè. This is not a neighborhood of ancient ruins, but a bizarre and beautiful collection of early 20th-century buildings that are designed in a completely unique and whimsical architectural style that is a fusion of Art Nouveau, Baroque, and even medieval influences.
The centerpiece of the neighborhood is the stunning Fountain of the Frogs. A walk through this small, quiet, and fairy-tale-like neighborhood feels like stepping into a dream.
9. You have to get lost in the backstreets of Trastevere.
The neighborhood of Trastevere, which means “across the Tiber,” is famous for its beautiful, ivy-draped buildings and its lively nightlife. While the main streets can be crowded with tourists, the real magic of the neighborhood is to be found in its quiet, backstreet alleyways. To truly experience Trastevere, you need to put away the map and just get lost.
You will stumble upon hidden piazzas, beautiful, centuries-old churches, and tiny, family-run trattorias. It is in these quiet moments of discovery that you will find the true, bohemian soul of this incredible neighborhood.
10. You should find the secret keyhole view of St. Peter’s Basilica.
One of the best and most secret views in all of Rome is to be found on the top of the quiet and beautiful Aventine Hill. Here, on the door of the Priory of the Knights of Malta, you will find a small, unassuming keyhole. If you peek through this keyhole, you will see a perfectly framed, postcard-perfect view of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, perfectly aligned at the end of a garden path.
It is a magical and completely unexpected little discovery that most tourists have no idea exists. It is a quiet and beautiful moment that will make you feel like a true Roman insider.
11. You must eat a “pizza al taglio”.
While Rome is famous for its thin-crust, round pizzas, the more authentic, everyday Roman pizza experience is “pizza al taglio,” or pizza by the slice. This is a different kind of pizza that is baked in large, rectangular trays and is sold by weight. You simply point to the kind you want and indicate with your hands how big of a slice you would like.
This is what Romans eat for a quick and cheap lunch. The crust is often thicker and crispier than a traditional pizza, and the toppings are incredibly fresh and creative. It’s a delicious and essential part of the city’s street food culture.
12. You can learn to cook like a Roman.
One of the best and most immersive ways to connect with Roman culture is to take a cooking class. A number of excellent classes are available that will take you to a local market to shop for fresh, seasonal ingredients and will then teach you how to prepare a classic, multi-course Roman meal from scratch. You will learn the secrets to making perfect, fresh pasta and a variety of other local specialties.
This is a fun, hands-on, and incredibly delicious way to get a deeper understanding of the city’s world-famous cuisine, and you will leave with a set of skills that you can use back home.
13. You should learn a few basic Italian phrases.
The single best and easiest way to not look like a tourist is to learn and to use a few basic phrases in Italian. You do not need to be fluent, but making the effort to say “buongiorno” (good morning), “per favore” (please), and “grazie” (thank you) will be deeply appreciated by the local people you interact with. It is a simple sign of respect that shows you are a guest who has made an effort.
It will immediately change the dynamic of your interactions, and you will be met with much warmer and more friendly service. It’s a small gesture that makes a huge difference.